Pedal mechanism for musical instruments.



PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

No. 886,377. I

A. F. LARSON.

PEDAL MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATIO N FILED JUKE 23, 1906.

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PATENTED MAY 5, 1908.

A. F. LARSON.

PEDAL MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1906.

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UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL F. LARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MARQUETTE PIANO COMPANY, OF CRYSTAL FALLS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

PEDAL MECHANISM FOR MUSICAL INS'IRIIMEN'IS.v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AXEL F. LARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and use ful Improvement in Pedal Mechanism for Musica Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to pedal mechanism for musical instruments such as pianos and organs, and more particularly to pedal arrangements which are collapsible so that they may be folded together when not in use and unfolded when it is desired to operate the instrument, the object of this invention. being to provide such mechanism which is of simple and efficient construction and which can. be easily and quickly brought into use when it is desired to be operated.

My invention provides a construction whereby the pedal mechanism when not in use may be folded together and entirely hidden from view and which, when it is desired to operate the instrument, may be quickly and easily exposed and placed in position so that the pedals which are connected with mechanism within the instrument case may be operated.

It is one of the important features of my invention that the necessity for complex connections and adjustments is entirely eliminated.

Broadly, my invention comprises a frame which is pivoted within the case of the instrument, this frame carrying the pedals and the connecting arms and being so placed with reference to a sliding panel in the instrument case that it may be swung forward out of the case upon the removal of the panel whereby the pedals and their associated connecting pieces will be in position to be operated.

I provide a modification whereby the frame carrying the pedals is hinged below the instrument case and when not in use forms a part of the front panel.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 23, 1906.

Patented May 5, 1908.

Serial No. 323,034.

1. Fig. 4 is a front view of a modification which will be described. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the mechanism in another position, and Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of one of the pedals employed.

With reference'to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and 7 I have shown the piano case at 1 and the base board and cross piece at 2 and 3 respectively. The supporting block 4 is secured to the base board and cross piece as shown, and

is provided with the steel pivot plate 5 which is secured thereto by means of the screws 66. The pedal frame 7 which supports the pedals 88 is com osed of ribbon steel or other suitable meta and is twisted through to a right angle at 9 so that it may be pivoted at 10 to the pivot plate 5. The pedals 88 are mounted on the pivot 1 1 which is mounted in the bearings 1212 which are secured to the frame 7 by means of the screws 13-13. The pedals 8, as is clearly shown in Fig. 7, are composed of a rectangular frame piece of angle iron 14 and a corrugated rubber mat 15 which is securely held in place by means of the wood block 16.

Connecting pieces 17-17 are pivoted at 18 to the pedals 8 and are pivoted at their other ends to the arm 19 of the bell crank lever 20. The bell crank lever is connected by means of a link 21 with bellows or other mechanism which is to be operated by means of the pedals. The arm 19 extends through a slot 22 in the back board 23, this board having also slots at 24, 24 through which the ends of the pedal frame 7 pass. The sliding panel 25 is supported in grooves 2626 and normally is disposed behind the opening 27, this opening being large enough for the admittance of the pedal frame 7.

His now evident that the frame 7 may be swung about its pivot 10 and passing through the opening 27 may be folded together into the osition shown in dotted lines in Fi 3, so tfiat it will be placed behind the sli ing panel 25. With this construction the entire mechanism is entirely hidden from view when it is collapse and when the sliding panel 25 is drawn to its position behind the o ening 27. When it is desired to operate t e instrument the panel 25 is drawn to one side and the frame 7 is swung outwardly about its pivot 10 until the front piece of the frame touches the floor. The pedals are then in position to operate the mechanism within the case. It is apparent that the mechanism may be brought into and out of use quickly and easily and without the necessity of making any adjustments or connections.

In order that the mechanism may be primarily adjusted so that it will operate correctly and recisely I provide the plate 5 with the e ongated slots 2828 through which the screws 6 may pass. The plate 5 may then be raised or lowered so that the proper disposition of the pivot 10 may be secured with regard to the associated parts whereby the mechanism may properly be folded so as to assume its proper position within the case.

W'ith reference to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, I have shown the instrument case at 29 and the front panel of the same at 30.

At 34, 34 I have shown a pair of columns which are adapted for association with the front panel 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

These columns are provided at their lower ends with the metal lugs 33, 33 which are mounted on a pivot rod 32 secured to the cross piece 31 of the instrument case. The columns are connected at their upper ends by the cross piece 35. Hinged at 36 to the back of the column is the pedal 37 to which is pivoted at 38 the connecting rod 39. The pedal 37 is provided with the slot 40, in which the connecting rod 39 is adapted to rest when not in use, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The bell crank lever 41 which performs the same function as the bell crank lever 20 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is pivoted at 42 and is provided at its end with the slot 43 which is adapted to be engaged by the pivot 44 of the connecting piece 39 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The arm 45 of the bell crank lever 41 is loosely pivoted at 42 and is connected with the other arm 46 of the bell crank lever only when it is in contact with the brace 47. The arm 45 extends forwardly through the slot 48 in the back board 48 when in its operative position and may be swung back about the pivot 42 and into contact with the spring 49 whereby it may be held in its inoperative position. Fig. 5 shows the mechanism when not in use and when the columns 34 form a part of the front panel 30. When in this position the connecting rod 39 is swung back about the pivot 38 so that it may rest in the slot 40. 30 is provided with arecess 50 which is adapted to receive the pedal 37 when the columns are in their raised positions and the mechanism is collapsed. This position is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

When it is desired to bring the mechanism into use, the columns 3434 are swung downwardly about the pivot 32 until the cross piece 35 touches the floor. The arm 45 of thebell crank lever may then be withdrawn from behind the back board 48 by inserting one finger through the enlarged portion 51 of the slot 48 and it may then be connected to the pivot 44 of the connecting piece 39 as shown in Fig. 6. hen it is desired to return the mechanism to its normal position the arm 45 is disconnected from the pivot 44 of the connecting piece 39 and is swung back about the pivot 42 until it is caught and held by the spring 49 behind the back board 48. The connecting piece 39 is then swung about the pivot 38 until it rests within the slot 40 in the pedal, and the columns are then swung about the pivot 32 until the pedal 37 has entered the recess 50 in the panel 30 and the columns have resumed their normal position. When in this position they will appear as part of the front panel and the pedal mechanism will be entirely hidden from view.

It is apparent that pedal mechanism of this construction can be easily and quickly brought into and out of use, no adjustments being necessary, there being necessary but one simple connection which can be easily and quickly made.

\Vhile I have herein shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it is evident that changes and modifications may readily be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not wish to be limited therefore to the precise construction herein shown.

It is evident also that this construction. can be applied to other than musical instruments, so I do not wish to be limited to this precise application.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In pedal mechanism for operating the motive devices of musical instruments, the combination of the instrument case with a U-shaped frame pivoted within said case, of a plate which may be adjusted into different positions, and to which said frame is pivoted, there being an opening in said case, said frame being disposed proximate to and adapted to be swung outwardly through said opening, a sliding panel normally. disposed before said opening, motive devices disposed within said case, a bell crank lever pivoted within said case, pedals hinged to the front part of said frame, and a connecting rod pivoted to each pedal and also to one arm of The panel said bell crank lever, the other arm thereof being associated with said motive devices, said pedals being in their operative position, whereby said motive devices may be operated when said frame is in its outside position.

2. In pedal mechanism for operating the motive devices of musical instruments, the combination of the instrument case with a frame pivoted within said case, of a plate which may be adjusted into different posi tions, and to which said frame is pivoted, there being an opening in said case, said frame being disposed proximate to and adaptpedals being in their operative osition,

ed to be swung outwardly through said 'openwhereby said motive devices may e opering, a sliding panel normally disposed before ated when said frame is in its outside posisald opening, motive devices disposed within tion.

5 said case, a bell crank lever pivoted within In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 15 said case, pedals hinged to the front part of my name this 21st day of June A. D., 1906. said frame, and a connecting rod pivoted to AXEL F. LARSON. each pedal and also to one arm of said bell Witnesses: crank lever, the other arm thereof being as- ARTHUR H. BOETTOI-IER,

1o sociated with said ,motive devices, said GEORGE E. HIGHAM. 

